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The Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, today (March 13) presented the Hong Kong flag to representatives of the "10,000 Miles Friendship Trek" exchange programme at a ceremony at Civil Aid Service headquarters.
More than 200 participants from 10 local youth uniformed groups and three Macau groups will visit sites for the Olympic Games as part of their six-day tour to the Mainland from March 21-26.
The Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Li Gang, also officiated at the ceremony.
The annual exchange programme, which is jointly organised by Hong Kong's youth uniformed groups, has received dedicated support from the Liaison Office and Mainland authorities since it was launched in 2002.
To celebrate the Olympic Games being held on Chinese soil for the first time in 2008, this year's exchange tour will see youngsters of Hong Kong visiting Olympic venues in Qingdao and Beijing. It is aimed at enhancing their understanding of the preparatory work for the Olympiad and arousing their interest in the unprecedented co-hosting of the Equestrian Events by Hong Kong.
The exchange tour will also familiarise the young participants with developments on the Mainland through visits to historic landmarks, schools and museums and city tours.
The 10 local youth uniformed groups that have nominated members to take part in the exchange tour are Hong Kong Road Safety Association, Civil Aid Service Cadet Corps, Boys' Brigade, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Adventure Corps, Hong Kong Air Cadet Corps, Hong Kong St John Ambulance, Scout Association of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Girl Guides Association, Hong Kong Sea Cadet Corps and Hong Kong Red Cross. Macau's Red Cross, Scout Association and Junior Police Call have also been invited to join the trip.
Ends/Thursday, March 13, 2008
Issued at HKT 18:34
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